By Tajeu Shadrack Nkapapa
The National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) conducted inspections in Kajiado County, on 6th September 2024 visiting several facilities to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and standards.
The inspections revealed significant violations, leading to strict enforcement actions by the Authority.
During the inspection, it was discovered that Proto Gas, a company operating a container depot for wholesale and retail of liquefied gas, is situated in a residential area, violating the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) license conditions.
“It was found out that Proto gas which operates a container depot for wholesale and retail of Liquefied gas is situated in a residential area contrary to EPRA license conditions,” stated NEMA.
As a result, NEMA directed Proto Gas to immediately cease the storage of filled gas in the residential area.
The company has been instructed to develop and implement a risk management plan in the short term and relocate its business to the commercial areas of Kitengela to conform with EPRA standards and licensing conditions.
Additionally, NEMA inspectors shut down operations at Heri Millers Production and arrested one individual for operating without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) license and for disregarding a previous Improvement Order issued by NEMA.
“Heri Millers production was also closed down and one person arrested for operating without an EIA license and disobeying previous Improvement Order,” NEMA stated on X.
The Authority urges the general public to obtain Environmental Impact Assessment licences for new projects, Effluent Discharge Licenses for discharging facilities and also provide NEMA compliance documents upon visitation by gazetted environmental inspectors from NEMA.
Early this week on 4th August 2024 NEMA carried out similar inspections in several hotels and petrol stations in Machakos County.
Two people were arrested for not having the required licenses and for disobeying previous Improvement Orders issued to them.
A construction site was closed for not having an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) license.
Most of the hotels had poor documentation and the documents were also not present at the site during the inspections.
NEMA advises the public to apply for and monitor their licenses in accordance with the Environmental Management and Coordination Act (EMCA) of 1999 and its associated regulations.